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All is (MAX) well with Kings XI Punjab

On Sunday night, cricket balls at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium had taken a sound beating. They were landing on the roof, hitting the advertising boards and going into the stands on demand.

The setting was perfect: A team trying to chase down a huge total under lights, a batsman (read Glenn Maxwell) brutalising the cricket ball and sending shivers down the bowlers’ spines and a dramatic finish to the whole scenario. You had it all. One only wished they could hear the late great Tony Greig in the background shouting in the microphone, “They are dancing in the aisles in Sharjah!” as the action unfolded.

The crowd had witnessed yet another Maxwell special in this year’s edition of the IPL. Rajasthan Royals couldn’t quite come to terms as to what had struck them over a period of an hour that was filled with Maxwell Mayhem. They were speechless, but in the end, had no choice but to appreciate yet another ‘special’ knock from Glenn Maxwell. It is the second consecutive time that the Kings XI Punjab had chased down a huge total, courtesy David Miller and Glenn Maxwell.

We at IPLT20.com caught up with the man of the moment to try and flip through the pages of Maxwell’s Book of Batting.

Read on to know more about the batting psyche of Maxwell the Mauler: Do you have any idea how fast you swing your bat?

(Laughs) Fast! Very fast! I have been told that numerous times by a lot of people, but that is because I try to hit the ball as hard as I can.

Do you think the Mumbai Indians would be ruing the fact that they let go off you?

At that time, it was probably the right decision for Mumbai Indians to let me go. You don’t expect to make two big scores like that in a row and I have had a bit of luck as well. Hopefully, the luck stays with me and I can keep making some big scores.

Two huge totals to chase, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for the Kings XI Punjab.

We have won chasing two big totals and we are pretty happy to be where we are at the moment. At the same time, we still have a lot to work in the nets. Our bowling and fielding has not been up to the mark in the first two games, but it is nice that the batting group can save them and get us over the line.See ball, hit ball – is that Glenn Maxwell’s way of batting?

No, not really. I actually try to manipulate the fielders as much as I can. It depends on the bowler and the size of the boundary, which I try to target. I targeted the short boundary tonight and the wicket was holding up when they bowled slower balls. I just try to target areas that I feel are my strengths and also survey the field. At the moment, I have got something that is working for me and I am going to keep trying to do that as much as I can. It is just about batting the way you think you bat best and that is what I am trying to do.

When you got out, the team still needed 60-plus to win. Were you confident David Miller would finish the job?

I did think Miller will finish the game for us. With Miller and George Bailey to come, I thought we still had enough fire power to finish the job. I was frustrated when I got out since the job was still half done and I felt I should have been there to get those runs. It is frustrating to get out in both the games and not finish it when the winning runs are definitely there for the taking.A 95 against Chennai Super Kings and now 89 against Rajasthan Royals. Which innings would you rate higher?

I would rate this one higher than the one that I played against Chennai Super Kings. Tonight, it was a slow outfield, and the bowling attack I was facing was more challenging. They bowled well according to the conditions and I felt this one was a bit more under pressure. I would rate both these innings at the top two of my list in my T20 career. I have hit a really good patch of form now, and hopefully, I can continue for the next 12 games in the Pepsi IPL, and beyond.Was there any pressure on you while chasing both these huge totals?

I don’t get burdened by pressure. Pressure is something that you put on yourself. I put pressure on myself before a game or before I go out to bat. But once when I go out there to bat, I just enjoy it and have a little bit of fun. I look at the total and take it from there.

You have a team that has power-packed players like Virender Sehwag, Geroge Bailey, David Miller and yourself. Who amongst you hits the ball hardest?

I think David Miller has got that area comfortably covered and George Bailey is similar to me. He probably hits bigger sixes than I do. I just try to get them over the rope, but Bailey hits them hard and far. Those guys are massive hitters of the cricket ball. If there are times I fail, hopefully I don’t, I am sure at that time, those guys are going to go hard.

There are a lot of batsmen who are innovative in their shot making and shot selection. Who amongst the current breed of cricketers is the best according to you?

I feel AB de Villiers is one of the best. He is a very clever batsman. He steps around the crease and keeps his head still. He is probably the one who is the most clever when it comes to hitting in different areas and manipulating the bowlers.What is the one thing that AB de Villiers has that you don’t?

Test hundreds. (Laughs) He has hundreds in almost all formats and is a superstar of the game. He is someone who I look up to and is one of my favorite cricketers to watch. I still have a long way to go to get to anywhere near his standards.

I intend to play more ‘correct’ cricket: Uthappa

Robin Uthappa has always been good to watch. The way he has brutalised bowling attacks in the past has earned him a reputation of a hard-hitting batsman. The ‘walking assassin’ as he is called for his trademark shot, where he charges down the track, has became a potent weapon in his batting armoury. Over the years, Uthappa has matured, realised his strengths and weakness and now claims to have ‘cleaned up’ his cricket for the better.

On Saturday night in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium, it wasn’t a trademark Robin Uthappa innings. There wasn’t that ‘walk’ down the pitch to the bowlers to hit them for a six over their heads nor was there mindless aggression. It was a calm, sedate and a mature Uthappa on display who got to his first half-century of this year’s Pepsi IPL.

In this chat with IPLT20.com, Robin Uthappa talks about how he has given his batting a good thought, his batting camaraderie with Manish Pandey and about putting the reverse sweep to good effect.

Excerpts from his chat:

Disappointing to end up on the losing side, but what are the positives that the team would take from the game?

It was a good performance, I think we did really well throughout the game and it was just that 18th over when JP Duminy took off that changed the course of the game. There are a lot of positives to take from this game. The energy within the team was really good, which is very important in a tournament like this. The way Manish Pandey batted and Shakib Al Hasan finished and the manner in which Vinay bowled initially, are the positives we can take.

A half-century after a quiet first game should keep you going for the rest of the tournament.

I am glad that I have been able to continue my good form from the domestic season, which has really helped. I have been in good form throughout the season and I am happy I can contribute to the team in a meaningful way. It was good to be in touch and be able to stitch up a partnership with Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan to get the team to a good total.

You hit your first boundary in the 12th over of the match. Was it a conscious effort to start off slow and then accelerate?

I know as long as I am in the middle, the runs will keep coming, which is important for the team. We were two down in less than three and a half overs, so it was important to make sure that the team got a foundation to build on. It was important for me to hold one end up when Manish was going great guns. He was batting in a flow, so it was important that I complemented him. We have batted with each other in the past and understand each other well. It was a conscious effort to make sure that I held one end up for the team.

You used a lot of reverse sweeps in your innings; is it something that you have developed over a period of time?

I have always played the reverse sweep. I have just kept the options open. When the opportunity arises and when I see a gap, then I play it. I only play it if I believe it is going to be useful at that point of time.

We have seen you go beserk over bowling attacks in the past. Have you curbed you aggression of late?

I have changed my technique and I have cleaned up my cricket in a big way, which has helped me play more correct cricket. I believe while playing correct, you can still score a lot of runs and score at a good pace. Today’s innings against Delhi Daredevils was a proof of that.

We do not see you charging down the pitch to bowlers often; will we get to see that a lot more in the near future?

Hopefully, yes. The wickets here are a little slow and you want the ball to come on to you to play those kind of shots. If the wickets allow me to play those shots, I definitely will.